US officials claim they have broken the back of the al-Qaeda network with the assassinations of Osama bin Laden and other top leaders — dealing the terrorist group a blow from which it is unlikely to recover.

Terrorist attacks have fallen to the lowest levels since 2005, a sign that al-Qaeda is weakened and has lost some of its ability to deal death and destruction, according to a report released on Tuesday by the US State Department.

However, counter-terrorism officials were quick to point out that al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups remain active and dangerous throughout the world.